The ACLU of Louisiana sent a letter this week to Plaquemines Parish school officials contesting a Rastafari student's suspension in Port Sulphur for having dreadlocks that extend beyond the top of his shirt collar.

The ACLU letter, written by staff attorney Candice Sirmon, said "John Doe's religious faith is Rastafari, and wearing his hair in dreadlocks and not cutting his hair is central to his religious beliefs."

Plaquemines Superintendent Denis Rousselle could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

"The school administrators and Mr. Rousselle have prohibited John Doe from returning to school as long has his hair remains in dreadlocks, as his religion requires," Sirmon wrote.

Sirmon's letter said that on Aug. 8, the first day of the school at South Plaquemines High School, the student was told that he had to cut his hair and that, when he did not do so, he was not allowed to return to school.

"The school administrators and Mr. Rousselle have prohibited John Doe from returning to school as long has his hair remains in dreadlocks, as his religion requires," the letter states. "Despite his numerous attempts to attend school, John Doe has been forced to miss 10 of the first 1 days of this school year."

The ACLU states that it "is unconstitutional under both the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article 1 § 8 of the Louisiana Constitution. Additionally, the school board's dress code policy is in violation of Louisiana's Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, La. R.S. § 13:5231 et seq."